Consultant Medical Microbiologist

Job responsibilities

Providing specialist clinical advice to a range of stakeholders e.g. NHS clinicians, health protection teams, partner agencies (Food Standards Agency and Animal and Plant Health Agency) and international agencies (ECDC, WHO and CDC). The role includes medical leadership for national gastrointestinal outbreaks and food safety incidents. The postholder will contribute to generation of national guidance on management of various gastrointestinal infections (e.g. Enteric fever guidance, BASSH guidance on enteric pathogens, Shigellosis, STEC, amoebiasis). They will contribute to various national reports on antimicrobial resistance (e.g. One Health and ESPAUR).

The postholder will be advising government on the risks posed by various gastrointestinal pathogens and responding to national and international health concerns.

The post holder will present at major national and international infection and pathogen specific conferences and multiagency meetings.

The job is designed to cover the full range of clinical and public health infection in the UKHSA Gastrointestinal Infections, Food Safety & One Health Division (GIFSOH). The purpose of this post covers eight broad areas:a) Contribute intellectual and scientific leadership to the GIFSOH Division.b) Participate in Division and Directorate management activities.c) Line manage GIFSOH Division staff as delegated by the Deputy Director GIFSOH.d) Contribute to education and training of clinical and scientific staff.e) Develop and execute clinical and epidemiological studies in gastrointestinal infection.f) Supporting the Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit (GBRU) - for clinical interpretation of results, clinical liaison with external stakeholders.g) Contribute to relevant public health policies and guidance.h) Provide medical input and leadership to incidents and outbreaks related to gastrointestinal infections.i) Ensure that the GIFSOH Division works to the highest standards of Clinical Governance.j) Support and develop the Epidemic and Emerging Infections (EEI) workforce, in line with UKHSAs remit, to support capability and capacity, including technical and professional skills to meet the challenges involved in protecting and improving the publics health.k) Ensure that the Health & Safety of staff is paramount, that the H&S arrangements for your service are of the highest standards, and that you work closely with the HSE to address any recommendations that they may have in a timely fashion.

The postholder will have a CCT in Medical Microbiology/Infectious Diseases, or be within 6 months at interview date of achieving CCT.This 5PA post (includes 1 supplementary PA) will provide an excellent opportunity for experienced NHS Consultants wanting to explore a national role, equally new Consultants within 6 months of CCT are also welcome to apply. The job requires specialist knowledge and appropriate pathogen specific knowledge and outbreak response training will be provided.

Please see attached job Description & Person Specification for full list of essential criteria and further details.

ExternalOpen to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of an Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application) an 1100 word Statement of Suitability.

This should outline how your skills, experience and knowledge provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible.

The Application Form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment

Please do not exceed 1100 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number. Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview (competency based)

You will be invited to a remote interview held by MS Teams with camera on. Knowledge, experience, skills & abilities will be tested at interview.

Interviews will be held from week commencing 11th August 2025. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Counter-terrorist Check.

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at our Scientific Campus at Colindale, London. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month).

If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Candidates should refer to the Job Description for a full overview of the role and remit of the post prior to completing their application.

Education/ Qualification

Essential

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) or be eligible for registration within six months of interview. for Medical Microbiology and Virology and/or Infectious Diseases
• Applicants that are UK trained, must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), for Medical Microbiology and Virology and/or Infectious Diseases or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview Infectious Diseases and/or Microbiology. Applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT
• FRCPath in Microbiology OR evidence of equivalent qualification (i.e. completion of Training as an ID physician with evidence of specialist interest in Bacteriology or Virology e.g. MD or PhD)
• MRCP or evidence of equivalent qualification
• Applicants must meet minimum CPD requirements in accordance with the requirements of the Royal College of Pathologists, the Royal College of Physicians, or other recognised body Evidence of continuing medical education (existing consultants must be able to demonstrate active participation in recognised CPD scheme)

Desirable

• Dual training in Infectious Diseases and Microbiology/ Virology
• MSc, MD, PhD or evidence of equivalent qualification through documented research output.
• Relevant higher qualifications e.g. teaching, management or infection control.

Experience

Essential

• Training in clinical microbiology, infectious diseases and public health microbiology Evidence of experience in clinical microbiology, infectious diseases and public health microbiology
• Evidence of experience in clinical microbiology, infectious diseases and public health microbiology
• Relevant post registration experience
• Experience of clinical risk management
• Recent experience of clinical and/ or laboratory diagnostics for infectious diseases
• Experience of working at a local/ regional and/or national level on guidelines, policies and other matters that influence clinical infection and/ or public health practice
• Knowledge of methods of developing clinical quality assurance, audit, quality improvement and evidence based clinical and/or public health practice

Desirable

• Experience in other related specialities
• Public health experience
• Demonstrates breadth of experience and awareness in and outside speciality/ medicine
• Demonstrate use of evidence-based practice
• Experience of leading on teaching and training for specialist microbiology trainees (STs)
• Research experience, presentations, publications, prizes and honours.

Skills

Essential

• Clear, logical thinking showing an analytical scientific approach
• Ability to foster and promote the delivery of the clinical diagnostic service of the laboratory
• Understanding of epidemiology and statistics, data analysis and public health practice
• Decisiveness/accountability (ability to take responsibility, show leadership, make decisions, exert appropriate authority)
• Ability to organise self and own work and to prioritise clinical need
• Interpersonal skills (see patients as people, empathise, work co-operatively with others)
• Flexibility (able to change and adapt, respond to rapidly changing circumstances)
• Resilience (able to operate under pressure, cope with setbacks, self-aware)
• Thoroughness (is well prepared, shows self- discipline/commitment, is punctual and meets deadlines)
• Shows initiative/ drive/ enthusiasm
• Probity (displays honesty, integrity, aware of ethical dilemmas)
• Ability to communicate effectively with clinical members of staff

Desirable

• Understanding of NHS, clinical governance and resource constraints
• Evidence of leading audits
• Management/ financial awareness
• Information technology skills
• Enthusiasm for teaching
• Familiarity with specialist training program requirements and competencies in clinical and or educational supervision.

Equality and diversity

Essential

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships appreciation and acknowledgment of the range and complexities of diversity in the UK.

Values and Behaviours

Essential

• Commitment to and focused on quality, promotes high standards in all they do
• Consistently thinks about how their work can help and support clinicians and frontline staff deliver better outcomes for patients
• Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness
• Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others
• Consistently looks to improve what they do, looks for successful tried and tested ways of working, and also seeks out innovation
• Actively develops themselves and supports others to do the same

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).